The Long Lost Tribrid

4. A werewolf?!

Hope's Pov:

"Caroline! Watch out!" I shouted, my heart pounding in my chest as I sprinted towards Queen Caroline. With all my might, I lunged forward and pushed her to the ground, feeling the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins.

We landed with a resounding thud, the impact knocking the breath out of me. I watched in horror as the creature's razor-sharp claw swiped through the air just inches above us, missing us by a hair's breadth. Quickly regaining my composure, I scrambled to my feet and extended a hand to help Caroline up. As she rose, I instinctively reached for a nearby sword and thrust it into her hands, knowing we'd need every weapon at our disposal. With my heart still racing, I spun around to face our attacker, only to find myself frozen in disbelief at the sight before me-a massive, snarling werewolf. Wait a minute.

"A werewolf?!" I shrieked, my voice cracking with a mixture of fear and incredulity. I shot Queen Caroline a bewildered look, silently questioning the reality of our situation.

The beast before us was truly terrifying. It reared up on its hind legs, its muscular form towering at least 15 feet tall. The werewolf's eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger that sent chills down my spine. Swallowing my fear, I readied my knife, its blade glinting in the dim light. With a burst of courage, I lunged forward and slashed at the creature's legs, hoping to incapacitate it. But I had underestimated its speed and agility. In a blur of motion, its powerful tail whipped around, catching me off guard and slamming me into a nearby tree with bone-crushing force.

I groaned in pain, my vision blurring momentarily as I struggled to regain my bearings. Through the haze, I watched as Caroline valiantly fought back, her sword flashing as she landed several good swipes on the beast. But her luck didn't hold. The werewolf's massive paw struck out, knocking her to the ground. My heart leapt into my throat as I saw a lethal claw descending towards her prone form. Without hesitation, I pushed through the pain and sprinted towards her, determined to block the attack. But I was a fraction too slow. The claw caught my back instead, its razor-sharp edges ripping through my dress and tearing into my flesh.

"Agh!" I cried out, the searing pain nearly bringing me to my knees. Gritting my teeth, I struggled to my feet, my grip tightening on my knife as I slashed at the wolf again, desperate to keep it at bay.

Summoning every ounce of strength I had left, I attempted another strike. But the pain from my injury was overwhelming, clouding my senses and throwing off my aim. A scream of agony and frustration tore from my throat as my attack fell short. Caroline, seeing my distress, redoubled her efforts. She darted in, landing a few more precise hits on the beast before grabbing my arm. "Run!" she yelled, and we took off, our feet pounding against the forest floor.

"Go, go, go! The cave, go there!" Caroline shouted, her voice strained with urgency. My eyes frantically scanned our surroundings until I spotted the cave she was referring to. Despite every instinct screaming at me to seek safety first, I waited for her to enter before following her in, determined to ensure her protection.

As soon as we were inside the cave, the adrenaline began to fade, and the full extent of my injuries hit me like a tidal wave. I stumbled, my legs suddenly weak, and fell against the rough rock wall. The cool stone against my skin was a stark contrast to the burning pain radiating from my back.

"Fuck, sweetie, it got you," Caroline said, her voice laced with concern. She knelt beside me, her eyes widening as she assessed the damage. "Are you okay? It looks bad." Without hesitation, she tore a piece from her own dress, the fabric ripping with a sharp sound that echoed in the cave. As gently as she could, she began to wipe at my back, trying to clean the wound. Despite her care, I couldn't help but arch away from her touch, the pain flaring up at even the lightest contact.